Match Report | Regional derby defeat in final game of 2022 (2-1)

Valencia CF took on Villarreal CF on Saturday 31st of December, New Year’s Eve at 4:15 pm kick-off time at the new-look Estadio de La Cerámica on Matchday 15 of LaLiga the final fixture of 2022. 

The game saw a quick start at both ends with the opposition on the front foot minutes of the game through efforts from Gerard Moreno going wide and then Giorgi Mamardashvilli pulling off a fine stop to Capoué in the early goings of the game. 

However, Valencia CF refused to back down with the first meaningful Valencia CF chance falling to Edinson Cavani whose powerful drive from point blank-range was kept out by José Manuel Reina over the quarter-hour mark. 

Edinson Cavani gave Valencia CF the breakthrough with a scintillating goal-poaching finish in the 20th minute after collecting a rebound off a Samuel Lino effort and slamming the ball past José Manuel Reina. 

Both sides kept on battling after the goal. Shortly after, Giorgi Mamardshvili produced another superb stop to deny Samuel Chukwueze as the opposition steadily grew into the game at La Cerámica.  

Valencia CF turned up the intensity in the closing stages through an effort from Yunus Musah which came off Raúl Albiól and then Samuel Lino which was blocked away by the Villareal CF backline.  

Samuel Chukwewze made it 1-1 on the stroke of half-time. The first half finished one apiece with all to play for in the second half.  

The same script followed in the opening stages of the second stanza with Valencia setting out their stalls in defence and trying to find a foothold in the regional derby. 

The game saw a highly contested spell over the hour mark as Valencia CF kept on trying to make inroads and settle into the game. 
Alas, Juan Foyth made it 2-1 to Villarreal CF late on in the game and the regional derby ended in a 2-1 defeat. 

Valencia CF will visit La Nucia CF on Tuesday, January 3rd at Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano at 7 pm kick-off time in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey

2. VILLARREAL CF: Reina, Kiko Femenía (Foyth, 33'), Raúl Albiol, Pau Torres, Alberto Moreno (Pedraza, 79'), Capoue, Parejo, Álex Baena (Trigueros, 79'), Chukwueze (Morales, 72'), Yeremy Pino (Jackson, 72') and Gerard Moreno.

1. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry, Diakhaby, Cömert, Gayà, Nico (Hugo Guillamón, 79'), Yunus Musah (Ilaix Moriba, 57'), André Almeida, Samu Castillejo, Samuel Lino (Justin Kluivert, 74') and Cavani (Hugo Duro, 79').

GOALS: 0-1 Cavani, 21'; 1-1 Chukwueze, 45'; 1-2 Foyth, 88'.

REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez (C. Murciano). Yellow cards for Yunus Musah, Cömert, Ilaix Moriba and Juan Foyth.

VAR: Del Cerro Grande (C. Madrileño).

Matchday 15 of LaLiga played at Estadio de La Cerámica.